WPIAL Big Game Hunting – Week Eleven

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, November 5, 2014 | 3:43 PM

And so we are off on the Highway to Heinz, some great games in the first round as always but things will really pick up here in the quarters. The first round was fairly “chalk” with A being the only classification to lose more than one higher seeded team, yes Beth Center and Frazier were both from the TCS. AA lost only an eight seed as South Park blocked Beaver’s attempt at a game-winning field goal as time expired. AAA saw only their seven seed, Montour go out falling hard to Mars. AAAA had just one upset but it was by far the biggest “eyebrow raiser” of the night as the Plum Mustangs ousted the four, Penn Hills. Who will surprise us in the quarters? Let’s go Big Game Hunting, and see if we find anything!

AAAA:
#7 North Allegheny Tigers (8-2) vs #2 Penn-Trafford Warriors (10-0) Friday November 7^th at 7:30 pm @ Fox Chapel high school broadcast on the MSA Sports Network and the North Allegheny Sports Network by Randy Gore and Rick Meister also broadcast on the MSA Sports Network and HJB FM  by Don Conde and Jimmy Lee Santorella

Since starting ther season 1-2 the Tigers have rattled off seven straight wins and have the look of a contender coming into this quarterfinal game against the two seed. Penn Trafford meanwhile has kind of quietly continued their perfect season, opening the playoffs with a comfortable 40-13 win over Fox Chapel.

The Warriors have the number one defense in AAAA in terms of points allowed, including three shutouts on the year.

Junior quarterback Brett Laffoon has been stellar throwing the football completing 75 of 114 passes for 1499 yards and 19 touchdowns all while throwing just two interceptions for the champions of the Foothills conference. Laffoon is also a threat to run with 323 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on the year.

Laffon’s top target is another junio in Tim Vecchio who has caught 32 passes for 775 yards and, scored a dozen touchdowns.

On the ground John Ruane’s club has gotten splendid work from senior Devin Austin who has rushed for 1266 yards in 170 attempts and has scored a team-high 19 touchdowns on the year.

Junior Jonah Lisbon has also ground out 465 rushing yards on the year for the Warriors.

Art Walker’s Tigers have outscored opponents 242-66 during their win streak including blanking the USC Panthers 24-0 in the opening round.

North Allegheny has a senior in Jeff Clemens calling the offensive signals and throwing for 1146 yards and a dozen touchdowns on the season without throwing a single interception. Clemens has also rushed for 377 yards and five touchdowns.

Senior Clay Byerly leads the team in receptions with 26 for 403 yards he has scored seven touchdowns, also a team-high.

On the ground North Allegheny has four different players who have rushed for more than 200 yards on the season. The leader of the group is sophomore Mike Pope who has rushed for 523 yards and six scores in just 59 carries, an average of almost nine yards per touch.

Senior Josh Bergman is a monster at running back for the Tigers with 466 yards and four scores amongst his 89 carries.

AAA:
#10 Mars Fighting Planets (7-3) vs #2 Thomas Jefferson Jaguars (10-0) Friday November 7th at 7:30 pm @ Chartiers Valley high school broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Sam Hall and Steve Nagler

This game not only features the two most handsome broadcasters at the MSA Sports Network, but also two of the best running backs in the WPIAL. Mars surprised a lot of people by handling the seventh-seed, Montour in the opening round 42-27 and Thomas Jefferson celebrated the return of the WPIAL’s leading rusher, Austin Kemp to their line up after a week-long hiatus with a 49-14 drubbing of the 15 seed, Moon. 

Kemp showed no rust after missing week nine rolling for 220 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries all in the first half against the Tigers.

Mars running back Ori Rinaman was even better against the Montour Spartans rushing for 239 yards and six touchdowns in the win.

No surprise that both teams will be looking to run the ball in this game. Kemp on the year for the Jags and Bill Cherpak is tops in the entire WPIAL with 1794 yards and 36 touchdowns. Had he not missed week nine with an injury he might already be over the 2,000 barrier.

The jags don’t throw much, Bobby Kelly has completed 9 of just 18 passes on the season for 248 yards and three scores.  Quinton Hill Ryan Scanlon and Braden Pahanish will also get touches in the Jaguar ground game. Hill has piled up 709 yards on the ground along with 11 touchdowns.

If the Jags put it in the air look for Francis Langan to be the target he has nine catches on the season.

Mars is a bit more likely to throw with senior quarterback Jake Rosswog completing 53 of 113 passes for 981 yards and ten touchdowns on the season.

The Planets stumbled out of the gate after losing top running back Josh Schultheis early in week one for the year. Mars lost 2 of their first three games. The emergence of Rinaman as a bonafide star has led to the Planets winning 6 of 7 and reaching the quarterfinals.

Rinaman has 1242 yards and 23 touchdowns on 201 attempts on the season.

Gabe Spurlock in the trenches for the Planets is one to watch in this game. 

AA:
#5 Seton-LaSalle Rebels (9-1) vs #4 Highlands Golden Rams (10-0) Friday November 7th at 7:30 pm @ Valley high school broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Matt Vandriak and Brandon Showers

This game has the top runner in AA in Highlands’ Elijah Jackson, and the number three quarterback in AA in terms of yardage in Seton’s Tyler Perone.

Seton’s only loss came in week eight to South Fayette and Highlands is perfect on the year.

The Rams had their hands full with New Brighton in the opening round hanging on to win 24-19. The Rebels defense was the story in their opening round win, blanking a tough and balanced McGuffey team, 20-0.

Seton will rely on Perone, but not exclusively. Perone has completed 137 of 210 passes for 1858 yards and 22 touchdowns on the season.

The Rebels top receiver is one of the best in the league in Danzel McKinley-Lewis who has 44 catches for 620 yards and 11 scores on the year. Paris Ford and DeQuay Broadwater are also big-play threats in the passing game and all three are monsters in the secondary for the Rebel defense which is allowing just 11.5 points per game.

Ricky Mellick will get the bulk of the carries in the Seton ground game with 1037 yards and 11 touchdowns scored to go along with his 167 rush attempts.

Sam Albert’s Golden Rams have won all of their games despite giving up almost 20 points per game defensively on the year.

They have won behind senior Elijah Jackson just crushing it on the ground. Jackson has 1634 yards and 20 touchdowns for the year. He is strong, fast, smart, and has great vision.

Brayden Thimons at quarterback is the dual threat that so many teams seem to have lately. Thimons, just a sophomore has completed 34 of 74 passes for 663 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has also rushed for almost 500 yards and 10 scores.

A:
#6 Jeannette Jayhawks (9-1) vs #3 Neshannock Lancers (10-0) Friday November 7th at 7:30 pm @ Deer Lakes high school broadcast on the MSA Sports Network and WJST AM 1280 by Mark Schaas and Lee Mohn

Neshannock remained perfect with a convincing win in the opening round over the 14 seed Greensburg Central Catholic 48-3. Eli Owens led the way with 210 yards and three rushing touchdowns.

Jeannette trailed Brentwood at the half before rebounding in a big way to beat the Spartans 50-19.

Jeannette’s only loss came at the hands of the Clairton Bears, while the Lancers have an unblemished record.

The Jayhawks lean heavily on senior quarterback Julian Batts, who is a very special player, he has rushed for 703 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has also completed 46 of 83 throws for 748 yards and 13 touchdowns without throwing an interception. He is at his best on the move.

Sophomore running back Kareem Hall has a dozen touchdowns and 542 yards on the ground for the ‘Hawks.

Jeannette has four solid athletes on the edges offensively and in the secondary defensively. Giovanne Sanders, Swade Redman, Terell Canady and Zack Altieri are capable of making any play a big play, including in special teams.

The Lancers are rolling after starting the season without Eli Owens for the first three weeks and that allowed them to develop I think some other components of their offense. Owens though has returned in a huge way with 988 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground in just seven weeks since returning from injury.

Sophomore quarterback Frank Antuono had to step up fast in weeks 1-3 without Owens to lean on. Antuono has completed 71 of 119 passes for 1461 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has a quarterback rating of 128.5.

Rocco Fazio, Tyler Perry, Jimmy Medure and Seth Dueitt have combined for 55 catches for 1149 yards and 15 touchdowns in the Lancers receiving game.

Senior defensive lineman Zack Barnes leads the team in tackles with 49 including a pair of sacks.

Dueitt and Jeff Sanfilippo each have three interceptions for Neshannock on defense.

Tags: Highlands, Jeannette